Q&A Interview with Sa'irai Cosplay

This week’s MMOsite Cosplay Spotlight shines on Sa’irai Cosplay, a fairly new cosplayer from overseas that is also a League of Legends fan. I spoke with Sa’irai about how she got interested in cosplay and found out something many people don’t know about her.

So where are you from?

I am from the Netherlands.

How did you first get into cosplaying?

I haven't been cosplaying for that long! I started last December, actually. I got into it because I have been a gamer for about seven years now and many people online talked about cosplayers. I went to search for it and decided to go to a convention and try it out for myself!

Picture by Bfiles.nl

Who is your favorite League of Legends champion?

Miss Fortune, I think. After that is probably Katarina.

Which champions have you cosplayed thus far?

Only Red Card Katarina so far but many to come!


What other champs do you want to cosplay?

I'm planning on cosplaying Janna and Star Guardian Jinx very soon.

What's the number one champion that you HATE being matched up against in LoL?

Probably Sivir or LeBlanc because I always lose track of who the real one is and end up killing her replica.

Favorite video games other than LoL?

Aion, Blade and Soul, and Black Desert Online.

Ah so you're an MMORPG player then? What about World of Warcraft?

Yes I am. I have tried World of Warcraft but I didn't like it as much. Probably due the graphics but it has been a long time so that may have changed.

Picture by Bfiles.nl

What would you say has been the biggest challenge you've faced as you learn more about cosplaying?

Props are the biggest challenge to me right now. I'm always so afraid to start on them because I’m worried I’ll ruin it and lose money on materials.

What are some of your hobbies outside of gaming and cosplay?

I love drawing, reading, and swimming.

Tell me something about yourself not many people know but fellow nerds might find interesting.

I'm actually a sports person too! I don't only game, I love to go to the gym and run. It kind of balances out being extremely lazy and gaming so much.

Anything else you'd like to add?

If you want to get into cosplay, totally do it! Watch Youtube videos and go to a convention near you at least once. It is a lot of fun and a complete new experience. If you have any questions about it you can totally reach my Facebook page Sa'irai Cosplay and ask me anything!

I hope you all have a great day!

Q&A Interview with Malice Cosplay

Photo by Tetsuya Cosplay

This week’s MMOsite Cosplay Spotlight is Malice Cosplay, an amazing and versatile cosplayer I met on a League of Legends cosplay Facebook group. I sat down with Malice to talk about the game and the art of cosplaying in general.

Where are you from?

I'm from Québec, Canada.

Photo by David Ngo

How did you first get into cosplaying?

I used to wear a lot of random stuff as a kid and wear costumes. My friend brought me to a small cosplay con in 2013, and if I’m not wrong he told me to put my Halloween cosplay on and that was my Alice Madness dress. I had a lot of fun. After that I looked for tutorials to do my own stuff and ended up following a lot of cosplayers that still inspire me today.

Who is your favorite League of Legends champion? 

My favorite champ is Lulu! I love her she's so darn cute. I used to play her all the time. I also love to play Caitlyn and Jinx. My favorite champs for the design are Syndra and Shyvana. They are both my cosplay dream.


Which champions have you cosplayed thus far?

Bittersweet Lulu, Dynasty Ahri, and Snowstorm Sivir. I rushed Vel’Koz for a con right after his release. I also rushed Alistar to duo with a friend.

Any plans for future LoL cosplays?

I'm working on Syndra now, FINALLY! I tried years ago and wasn’t happy so I put it aside for awhile. I feel like I have more skills now and it’s time to use it. I really want to take my time and be happy with the result.

Favorite video games other than LoL?

I love solo games like the Tomb Raiders and DmC: Devil May Cry. I play a lot of games with my friends. Sometimes what’s important isn’t necessarily the game itself but who you play with!

Photo by Novii Photography, costume by Hi, Stranger Creations

What is the most challenging part of cosplay in your opinion?

To not give up. That’s probably the most challenging for me anyway, hahaha. With my busy life sometimes it’s hard to get some motivation to work on a costume especially when things fail. I always fail some part and have to re-do them because I’m not happy but that’s how we learn and get better.

What about the most fun part?

The final product. It’s so satisfying. When you go to a con and people recognize your costume and like it. You can tell yourself, ''Hey I made it. I finally made it and it was worth it!'' To be part of a group, be proud. We wear uncomfortable costumes, heavy wigs, contact lenses, and high heels. We suffer, we don’t sleep enough, don’t eat enough during a con, sometimes wondering why we are doing it and after all that we still can't wait for the next con.

What is the furthest you have traveled for a con?

I went to Katsucon. We went by car and it took us 15 hours to get there. By the end I didn’t even know how to sit anymore because nothing seemed comfortable. But the con was beautiful and it was such a good weekend!

Photo by CP Photographie, Setting by Lexa One Photographie,
Makeup by CandyKiller

How does cosplaying for a convention differ from cosplaying specifically for a photo shoot?

I think conventions are way more stressful and painful than a photo shoot. There's a ton of people everywhere. You forget to eat; people bump into you (sometimes your costume even suffers from it). You can be a statue for hours because everyone wants a picture with you. You're dead after a day.

For a photo shoot, you can take more time. You know the pictures will usually be better than the one a stranger will take of you eating your sandwich at the con (without asking permission of course it always happens!)  It's usually friendly and more relaxed. You can take a break if needed (something you can barely do during a con). You can use more accessories, huge props, which you don’t always want to carry around during the day.

I love both but they are completely different experiences.

Outside of video games and cosplaying what are some of your other hobbies?

I love to dance. I dance all the time even though I never took any dance classes or anything. I love a lot of different styles and I try to learn some dances I see on video clips and movies since I’m young.

Picture by Martin Labbe Photography, Setting by Lexa One Photographie,
Makeup by CandyKiller

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I just want to tell people who want to cosplay or start cosplaying that they really should do it for themselves first. Even if you want a fan base or wish to eventually make a living out of that, people can feel it when you do a cosplay for yourself. It shows through on pictures. We are always more proud of stuff we do for ourselves than costumes we do to please others. Take your time; we are always learning and we are always improving!

Where can fans find more of you?


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaliceCosplay

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malicecosplay/

Picture by Don Dolce Photography

Q&A Interview with Pam's Snow Stage

This week’s Cosplay Spotlight features Pam’s Snow Stage, an up and coming cosplayer whose popularity has been growing recently. Her page has recently eclipsed three thousand likes and four thousand is already within sight. I sat down with her to talk about cosplaying and video games.

Where are you from?

I am from Brazil.

How did you first get into cosplaying?

I started to cosplay in 2006. I was 16 years old, so young and full of dreams. For me be your favorite characters was so nice and has been an awesome experience from the first time.

What does “Pam's Snow Stage” mean? Can you explain the meaning behind the name?

Well, my page's name meaning is that I always wanted a good name for my page, nothing like just "my name plus cosplay," and I saw some other cosplayers that used a name that means a place like "wardrobe" or "land.”

But this was a difficult task, because it had to be an original name. So, “Snow Stage” because I always do blue characters or characters with some relationship to the ice and snow. Then “Stage” because a stage is a place where people show off their abilities like dancing, singing, or whatever. My page is the place where I showcase my works for the community and so “Stage” seemed like a good name.

Who is your favorite League of Legends champion?

Jinx. I love to play her and love her personality; she's so lively and cheerful! (and also pretty crazy hahaha).

Which champions have you cosplayed thus far?

So far I have only cosplayed as Teemo.

Any plans for future LoL cosplays?

I am planning to do Firecracker Jinx because it is my favorite skin of hers. But I also want to do Sweetheart Sona and someone from the Star Guardians.

Favorite video games other than LoL? 

I love Final Fantasy, Chrono Cross, and lots of games from Square Enix. I am huge fan of Legend of Zelda and recently I have been playing a lot of Overwatch.

What do you think about the upcoming Final Fantasy VII remake? Are you excited for it, or skeptical of it?

I am very excited about it! Final Fantasy is one of my favorite video game franchises and the VII was one of my favorites as a kid. I played all the spin offs that I could (like Crisis Core and Dirge of Cerberus) and to see this game getting remade like that is awesome and I am very happy to be alive to see that.

Who is one LoL character you think is under-represented in the cosplay community?

I actually think all characters are very well represented, League of Legends is very popular among cosplayers and even the craziest and difficult characters have been cosplayed.

Does it ever snow in Brazil?

Yes! I live in southern Brazil and sometimes it is very cold here. It snows quite often in some cities near where I live (like the city of Gramado). The snow though is different from other countries; it isn't soft and the flakes are very tiny, not a lot like in others countries.

Is there a big cosplay/convention scene down there? 

Yes, here in Brazil we have some of the best cosplayers in the world. World Cosplay Summit is very big here and we have some large contests that people from all states come to participate in. People here are very competitive and they cosplay with a lot of materials that we don’t normally use. It’s a very dedicated scene!

What are some of your hobbies outside of gaming and cosplay?

Well video games and cosplay take me a lot of time and dedication, so it is just those two hobbies that I have.

Anything else you'd like to add?

I would thank you for the opportunity.  If someone wants to know more about me or see my other cosplays, please visit my Facebook page.

Cosplay is a beautiful hobby and we always have a duty to make it stay safe. Be kind to everyone and encourage more people to enter into the cosplay world. That is how it will grow as a hobby and become even better.

And that's it. A big kiss for everybody!

----

For more images visit her Facebook page.

Q&A Interview with Lullabie & Props

MMOsite recently had the chance to sit down with Cosplay Lullabie & Props, a Canadian gamer and cosplayer that is into League of Legends. She explains her passion for cosplay and also teaches us how to trash talk to a noob in French.

Where are you from?

I'm originally from Canada, South of Montréal.

How did you first get into cosplaying?

The first time I got into cosplay was when I was planning to go see a French friend from France who told me the Japan Expo was coming during the summer. I managed to throw together some simple outfits I and really loved this first experience with cosplay.

Who is your favorite League of Legends champion?

The only one I’ve cosplayed, for now, is Jinx. She is absolutely adorable and of course crazy, which is amusing. Her appearance isn't something we see very often in games, so she caught my eye immediately.

Any plans for future LoL cosplays?

Yes, I do! I am planning to cosplay Katarina in her classic skin, as I'm a lover of original characters. Some new skins are beautiful, but in my opinion classics are the best.

Favorite video games other than LoL?

My favorite video games are honestly Zelda from Nintendo, being a fan of this series since I was seven years old. Same with World of Warcraft. I’ve been playing that since I was six years old. Then, I also got into Overwatch recently!

What's the easiest cosplay you've ever made?

So, the easiest cosplay I have made was Ritsuka from Loveless when I started cosplaying in 2013. It was to be with a friend, this way we could make a duo.

How would one say "get owned noob" in French?

Honestly, I'm not even sure what this expression means haha, but a noob is for us, if I am right, someone playing badly in video games or doing foolish things to annoy people.

I do not want to say it wrong, but maybe noob would be something like “Espèce d'incompétant, de nul!”

In a neutral way!

What are some of your hobbies outside of cosplay and video games? 

My first hobby is drawing. I’ve loved to draw characters since I was just one year old! Crafting things is another hobby of mine, even outside of cosplay. Making stuff for Halloween, Christmas, etc.

What is your favorite cosplay memory since you started cosplaying?

Favorite moment would definitively be when I got a fan of Jinx all excited behind her prints-selling table at Otakuthon when she said we looked like characters straight out of the game, haha! (Me as Jinx and my best friend as Ashe), then I received a very pretty Jinx poster from her!

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Last thing I would say is that I really hope to bring more characters to life to the best of my abilities in cosplay and to not let people saying you can't! I'm still improving my costumes skills since 2013.

Where can fans find more of you?

On Facebook here.

Q&A Interview with Onyxeia

You may recognize this image from our main site banner

It is thrilling to meet with Onyxeia, who is a cosplay lover and who is good at delivering awesome cosplay work. Let's start from her Nidalee cosplay:

Where are you from?

Summoner’s Rift! Haha, no I'm from Sussex in the UK.

How did you first get into cosplaying?

I have always been into games, from a young age, watching my older brother play the Sega Mega Drive, and then playing it myself when I was a little older. So when I got the opportunity to visit Comic-Con I was super excited. There I saw a few people dressed up as characters from TV shows and movies that I watch and was just in awe of them. Since then I've been interested in cosplay. What's better than dressing up as your favorite character?

Speaking of TV shows, tell me a few of your favorites.

I practically live off of Family Guy, haha. I also love older stuff like Red Dwarf, Bottom, and The Young Ones.

So who is your favorite League of Legends champion?

It actually changes all the time, haha. But I really love Kayle and Janna.

Which champions have you cosplayed thus far?

I have only cosplayed Classic Nidalee so far.

Any plans for future LoL cosplays?

Oh yes, I have a very long list. I'd love to do Katarina and Janna.

I think you'd be an awesome Janna! What skin were you thinking?

Thank you! I'd like to do her Tempest skin.

Favorite video games other than LoL?

Some of my favorite games are Street Fighter, Dragon’s Lair Time Warp, Guitar Hero, and The Lost Vikings, but my ultimate favorite is World of Warcraft.

World of Warcraft huh? I didn't know people even still played that. How long have you been playing? What keeps the game fresh for you after so long?

Yeah it’s still really big! I haven't been able to play in a long time, you know with work and adulting, haha. But my other half plays quite seriously and I get my fill from reading the lore and character histories.

What's the cosplay/convention scene like in the UK?

Well our main con is MCM and it's super busy. In terms of cosplay I don't think it's as big over here as it seems to be elsewhere in the world. I think it's still fairly new in the UK.

What's the funniest thing that's happened to you while cosplaying?

It would have to be at the photoshoot for my Nidalee. I was climbing around on a fallen tree trunk and jumped down, though unlike a cat, I face planted the ground. Don't think I've seen my friend laugh like that before…

What are some of your hobbies outside of cosplay and gaming?

Other than cosplay and gaming, I'd say my job is also one of my hobbies. I'm a tattoo apprentice and I work with some of my best friends. I love doing my alternative and fantasy modeling as well as looking after my pets and listening to metal.

Tell me about the tattoos that you have.

I currently have about eight tattoos, though it's quickly growing, haha. I have two dragons, a half sleeve of skulls and roses, a shark, a bunny, some Viking symbols and Iron Maiden’s mascot, Eddie.

What is the first one that you got?

My first was a Viking dragon on my back.

Do you ever conceal them while cosplaying?

I only conceal them for some cosplay shoots if I think it doesn't suit the character but I love showing my tattoos in cosplay.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Just that I'm super hyped about all the new things happening for me! I'll be guesting at a few smaller cons in the UK and I'm starting to sell prints! Exciting!

Where can fans find more of you?

https://facebook.com/onyxeia

Q&A Interview with Eowinth Cosplay

Where are you from?

Silver Springs, MD.

How did you first get into cosplaying?

I got into cosplaying about three or four years ago when I first went to Katsucon. I'd always been a big fan of dressing up for Halloween when I was younger and hadn't even known cosplay was a thing until I got to college. I was really excited to make costumes and be my favorite characters for a day surrounded by people who shared the same interests.

What are you going to be for Halloween this year?

Still deciding. I'll probably wear Nana to work and Daryun for the kids who come for truck out treating.

Who is your favorite League of Legends champion?

My favorite champion is Ezreal, hands down.

Which champions have you cosplayed thus far?

So far I have cosplayed Nightblade Irelia, Foxfire Ahri, Ashe, and Officer Vi.

Any plans for future LoL cosplays?

My next up and coming league project is Pulsefire Ezreal.

Favorite video games other than LoL?

I'm a huge fan of Persona 3 and Devil May Cry. I also like flashy games, haha

As a Devil May Cry fan which Dante do you like more, the old one or the "emo" one?

Original Dante is way better. I was so disappointed with emo Dante I choose to pretend he doesn't exist.

What is your least favorite part of cosplaying?

Hands down the shoes. For some of my cosplay I wear ridiculous heels so I can more accurately portray the character. For example I wore six inch heels for Aigis to get her robot feet...

Who is one LoL character you think is cosplayed too much?

I'd have to Say Ahri takes the cake. I honestly think at some point almost every female League cosplayer -including myself- and sometimes male cosplayers have cosplayed her. Nothing wrong with it, but it almost seems like a right of passage to cosplay her, haha.

What are some of your hobbies outside of gaming and cosplaying?

I like to watch anime and go hiking with friends. I’m also a fan of D&D campaigns.

Anything else you'd like to add? 

I'm an anime and video game cosplayer and always looking for more people to cosplay with for cons and photo shoots!

Where can fans find more of you?

Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/eowinthcosplay

Instagram: EowinthCosplay

Cureworldcosplay: Eowinth Cosplay

Q&A Interview with Doublekill Cosplay

DoubleKill Cosplay is a Russian cosplaying team comprised of makeup artists Helen Stifler and Angelica Lolibel. MMOsite recently had the opportunity to speak with the talented cosplay duo about League of Legends and their cosplay background.

How did you first become interested in cosplaying?

Helen Stifler: I became interested in cosplay many years ago when I watched my first anime, Elfen Lied. I was impressed by the characters and read a lot about this anime on the internet. Then one day I found cosplay photos and I really liked them! So I made my first cosplay from this anime and that's how I became a cosplayer.

Angelica Lolibel: Well, it was about eight years ago, a friend of mine took me to the anime festival where I got the opportunity to meet cosplayers and I was fascinated by their costumes. The hard work they put into making truly incredible cosplays amazed me, so I decided that I had to try it, too.

Which League of Legends characters have you cosplayed?

Helen Stifler: Katarina, Rengar, Ahri, Lux, Riven, Jinx, Elise, Aurelion Sol, Tristana, Syndra...there are too many characters. Better watch my Instagram!

Angelica Lolibel: I cosplayed Miss Fortune, Vi, Sona, Ashe, Lux, Annie, Teemo, and Jinx. I also did make-up of Shaco, Amumu, Poppy, and Aurelion Sol.

Who is your favorite champion to play in the game?

Helen: I like Lucian and Ahri! They are awesome to me.

Angelica: I main Sona. Can't do anything about it, she is the best champion I've ever played. I also love Ashe and I used to main her.

How did you two form "Doublekill Cosplay"? Did you know each other beforehand?

Helen:  We've known each other for many years. We just wanted to make something together, something that we both adore. So we made our Doublekill Cosplay page.

Angelica: She's like a sister to me so forming our small cosband was just a natural decision, especially after we started playing and cosplaying League of Legends.

What's your favorite cosplay memory?

Helen: I remember so many funny moments and I don't know what to choose! Maybe it's when me and Angelica tried to record how we were eating donuts as Vi and Caitlyn on camera and I forgot to turn on play button...and we didn't know that we ate all donuts without any record! It was such a shame!

Angelica: Hmm. It's a hard question. Every cosplay I make is important to me, I put my heart and soul in my costumes, so all the memories I have are essential to me. But I guess there was this one time... when I was making Shaco at one end of the room and Helen was - Jhin - at the other. We couldn't see each other while applying make-up, and then I guess I needed something so I turned and asked Helen, and she looked at me, and we saw each other for the first time as Shaco and Jhin and we just started laughing. I laughed so hard that my fake nose fell off. I love moments like this!

How long does it generally take to create a costume?

Helen: It depends on difficulty of costume. It can be three days or three weeks.

Angelica: Depending on the costume, I can make one in just one day or it can take about a month.

What are some of your favorite video games aside from LoL?

Helen: The Sims. I really love that game! Also WoW, Minecraft, Skyrim, and Don't Starve.

Angelica: The best game that I have ever played is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. That game is so good that I had difficulties playing other RPGs as they seemed boring and easy.

What's it like living in Russia? Are there a lot of conventions there?

Helen: Bears and vodka of course! Recently in Russia are quite a few conventions but I visit less of them.

Angelica: It's alright. Every country has its pros and cons! We have plenty of cosplay festivals, but I prefer game events like GameWorld (aka Igromir). It's the biggest video games exhibition in Russia, and this year it was united with the first Russian ComicCon. I had so much fun. I love cosplaying, playing video games and watching movies and events like this one give me an opportunity to do all those things.

Favorite movie?

Helen: I've got so many favorite movies, I can't choose only one! Maybe Pet Cemetery because I love the book and the movie is really scary and awesome.

Angelica: I have sooooooo many of them! I can't name just one movie... I love of course all Christopher Nolan's movies. He's a genius! Then, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean and many many more, haha.

Outside of cosplaying and video games, what are some of your other hobbies?

Helen: Make up experiments and crafting in various ways, from art to sewing.

Angelica: I enjoy traveling. I can't live without experiencing the wonderful emotions of visiting new places. I also love cooking (especially baking) and watching TV series’ and movies (I watch almost everything; the amount of TV that I watch is scary).

(To Helen) Experiments? Can you elaborate on that a bit?

Helen: I mean that I love to experiment with the appearance changes. For example, to change my face to the face of a completely different person.

(To Angelica) Top Five TV series’?

Angelica: Easy!

1. Game of Thrones

2. Vikings

3. Da Vinci's Demons

4. Breaking Bad

5. Sherlock

(To Angelica) What do you think will happen in the new Game of Thrones season?

Angelica: I absolutely love it Game of Thrones! You can expect anything from this show! Every time I get an idea what's gonna happen, a character dies, haha. But the only character who has the power to defeat the White Walkers is Daenerys, so I believe that she will come to Westeros and will fight them and then rule the kingdom. Or everyone will die…

(To Angelica) So with Game of Thrones the thing is that whenever you have a favorite character they die before the season is over. Let's see if that curse holds true. Name your favorite character that's currently alive and we'll see if they make it through season six. Mine's Bronn.

Angelica: Haha mine is Jon Snow and I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't die any time soon.

(To Helen) Do you think there's an age when someone is too old to cosplay? Like should a professional cosplayer "retire" so to speak?

Helen: There are characters of different ages and that's why you can't be too old for cosplay. You just need to select the characters that are not only suitable for you in the face but also on age. I’ve actually seen many grandmothers who cosplay with their grandkids, and it's cool!

Is there anything else either of you would like to add?

Helen: I would like to add a big thank you for your interesting questions! And I want to wish budding cosplayers to believe in yourself and do not give up if something does not work. Follow your dream and enjoy yourself as you are

Angelica: Thank you for the interview! I wish you and all your readers many good games! Don't be aggressive and just enjoy every moment, hahaha.

If you liked this interview be sure to Like the DoubleKill Cosplay page on Facebook and follow Helen Stifler and Angelica Lolibel's Instagram pages for more images.

Q&A Interview with Crashqueenbaby Cosplay

When did you first start cosplaying?

I decided that I wanted to start cosplaying in July 2014. I was worried at first since I had never done it before. I chose Misty from Pokemon and then later on that year I decided to do my first full cosplay and loved every moment of it!

Do you create all of your own costumes?

Absolutely! There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears involved but in the end I'm proud. I do ask for help with prop making from my other half who also cosplays.

It's rare to see a couple that cosplays together. Did you have to convince your boyfriend to get into cosplaying? Did he convince you? Were you both cosplayers when you met?

I didn’t actually, no. He was already a cosplayer before I met him. I had never cosplayed before, but I really wanted to, thus he convinced me to gain more confidence and go for it! And we have cosplayed together ever since.

What do you like most about cosplaying?

I like being creative and the feeling of pride I get from something that I have made myself. I make pretty much everything from scratch and I get a great sense of accomplishment. But I’m also not going to lie I do love when people ask for pictures!

Which League of Legends champions have you cosplayed?

So far fully I’ve done classic Jinx, but I am also halfway through making Foxfire Ahri. I also want to cosplay as classic Ashe. League has some amazing costumes!

Who is your favorite champion to play?

Jinx naturally! I love playing Marksman, so there’s also Ashe. I do occasionally dabble with Ahri for a bit of something different.

Is there a story behind the name "crashqueenbaby?"

Ohh it's a really old screen name that I use for everything, including League! It stemmed from a couple of My Chemical Romance lyrics and it just kinda stuck!

Can you tell me a little bit about the UK cosplaying scene? What are some of the big conventions there?

There are actually quite a few conventions across the country. Some of the biggest ones are the 'MCM' ones. They hold two a year in London as well as others around the country. They are always fantastic and we love going to these ones! I would like to branch out and try others eventually. Cosplay in the UK is quite big; roughly about 80% of convention goers are in cosplay. Everyone is so friendly and I've made so many wonderful friends across the country.

Do you play any other MOBAs other than League?

I only play LoL!

What about non-MOBAs?

I play mostly JRPGs. Right now I'm restarting Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Explorers. I always have a Pokemon game on the go and soon I'll start Bravely Default!

Are you an anime fan?

I have dabbled in a little bit of anime. I love Sailor moon! But I am first and foremost a gamer!

What are some of your other hobbies outside of video games and cosplaying?

My day job is the assistant manager of a tropical fish store, so I am a fish keeper, with a good few aquariums at home! I also like to travel and will possibly go to Barcelona this year with my boyfriend.

For more images head over to Facebook.

Q&A Interview with Lilith Phaedra

Photo by BlizzardTerrak

How long have you been cosplaying?

I've been cosplaying since May 2014 and I made my debut at San Jose's FanimeCon. It's kind of funny when I tell people because for some reason they think I'm a veteran who has been at this a hell of a long time. But...I'm actually not!

What first attracted you to the hobby of cosplay?

I first heard about cosplaying when my friend Candytamer told me she did it and showed me pictures. I was confused at first. Then I wondered if I'd have fun doing it as well. At this time, I had the means as well as the passion to create my first cosplay and go to my first con. Been hooked ever since!

Who is your favorite champion in League of Legends?

I have been an avid Ezreal fan and player since August 2012. He was also my first cosplay! Ahri is a close second, though.

Which LoL champions have you cosplayed?

I have cosplayed five different Ezreal skins, Default Caitlyn, Kitty Cat Katarina, and Default Ahri. I’m probably forgetting one!

Photo by Blue Baby Productions

Tell me a bit about the process of creating a costume.

Honestly, the process varies depending on the costume. I don't consider myself particularly skilled when it comes to making my own cosplays, but if I can do it myself, I will. Kitty Cat Katarina is a prime example of this because I happened to have fur, belts, and foam lying around and I think it came out pretty well for being done in a day. Usually, though, if I have the funds, I just commission the parts that are too difficult for me and I have no shame in this, nor do I deny getting things commissioned. I'd rather pay more to have it done right the first time than possibly waste money on trial and error.

Ever had any embarrassing moments at cons?

Probably the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me at a con was at this year's SacAnime Winter 2016. For some reason, while cosplaying Caitlyn, I decided to try balancing my weight on my gun's tip. It ended up breaking in half. Twice. In front of a bunch of people! I was pretty mortified. Thankfully I was able to easily get it fixed because I found my prop making friend who had glue. Whew!

How do cosplayers clean their outfits after wearing them? I'd assume many aren't exactly washing machine safe.

I've actually cleaned a few outfits in the washing machine but only if I know it's durable enough or doesn't have any small parts that could fall off or stitches that could come loose. Overall, though, I'd say hand washing is always probably the best.

Proudest League of Legends moment/accomplishment?

Photo by Volfogg Cosplay Photos

Don't laugh, but I went 56/0 in a bot game once. Still counts, right? Hahaha. That or when I played an ARAM with a Rioter. I don't remember who it was but they were on my team and I got First Blood. Made me happy.

Favorite TV show?

I have not watched TV in probably a decade now. Couldn't tell you.

No TV huh? What are some things you do for fun? Aside from game and cosplay of course!

In today's day and age, I can find pretty much anything I want to watch (be it movies or videos) with the click of a button. Yay internet! Otherwise it's just generic stuff that everyone puts here. See my friends. See my partner. Read. Sleep. Eat lots of shrimp pasta. Go to cons. Work on cosplay, then play dress up with said cosplay. You know the rest.

Are you currently playing any games other than LoL?

Smash Bros., always. Now that I finally own a 3DS as well, though, I'm patiently awaiting Pokemon Sun & Moon.

Who do you plan on cosplaying next? Any upcoming convention plans?

I recently completed my first real "non-League" cosplay, which is a human version of Rouge the Bat from Sonic. I'm also working on a Pokemon cosplay as well. Obviously, there are no images yet of either of those two...because they've never been worn! My next cons require me to travel up and down my state and I will be attending FanimeCon, possibly Sacramento Wizard World, Anime Expo, and SacAnime Summer.

Photo by Jacksonrose Photography

You should totally ‘like’ Liliphae’s Facebook fan page for more images including a boudoir shoot she did recently!

Q&A Interview with Gilded Moon Cosplay

How long have you been cosplaying?

I have been cosplaying for four years now, started back in 2012.

What first interested you in the hobby?

Well I started off just wanting to try it out. It was a super small convention, SwampCon in Gainesville. The next year I cosplayed Homestuck with some friends and fell in love with how intricate and beautiful some of the costumes were and it made me want to get better!

Which League of Legends characters have you cosplayed?

I have cosplayed as Sona, both in her Arcade and Silent Night skins.

Who is your favorite champion to use when you're playing seriously? What about when just messing around?

I love playing Jinx, she's my go to champ for serious play. When messing around... I don't know! I love playing ultimate bravery with friends and seeing what ridiculous champ build I have to deal with!

What's the most difficult cosplay you've made/worn and what made it difficult?

I think Arcade Sona wins most difficult. I had never made a hoop skirt before, and there I was trying to make one that was so specifically shaped! The Etwahl for that costume was also the first major prop that I had ever made and I tried to make it so it would come apart for easy travel, which didn't turn out super awesome but it held together for all the conventions that I wanted to bring her to.

How does going to a convention to cosplay compare to just going as a fan / "normal" person?

Well, actually, I feel really weird going to conventions not in cosplay unless I'm working the artist alley. Because of how my schedule used to be with school I didn't get many opportunities to go to conventions other than the few big ones, so I like taking advantage of every opportunity I can.

If you could perma-ban one champion for being too OP who would it be and why?

It is probably an unpopular opinion, but either Corki or Dr. Mundo. Corki keeps getting buffed and since he's getting a lot of professional play people are just trying to copy those item sets and play styles in lower ELO and it makes me want to scream. Dr. Mundo is just broken because you can't kill him unless your team has perfect cohesion and focus!

What other video games do you like outside of League?

Oh boy, well I kind of cycle them out. When I was younger it was Roller Coaster Tycoon, Sims, Warcraft, World of Warcraft, and StarCraft. Nowadays I try to branch out with genres. I started playing Slime Rancher, I've played Skyrim, most of the Zelda games, and I love Splatoon!

Any other "nerdy" hobbies?

I play Pathfinder with a group of friends every week, I'm about to start rehearsing for two shows for a convention this summer, and I played Humans versus Zombies for a few years before being on the team that ran it at my university.

Is there such a thing as a "fake nerd"? 

Nah I don't believe that. I think that yeah there might be people who lie about interests in order to get friends or popularity, but whether they want to admit it or not, no one can try to pass completely as a "type" of person without knowing or liking that kind of stuff.

Any plans in the works for future cosplays?

Yes! Immediately I'm starting in Nona (Death Parade) and Tornado (One Punch Man). I hope to do Pool Party Draven over the summer but otherwise the last big one is Shiny Mega Gardevoir for DragonCon!

Anything else you’d like to add?

Hope to see some League friends at conventions this year!!

Check out Gilded Moon Cosplay on Facebook for more sweet pictures.